Falling Up

For his Maxjazz Piano Series debut, the veteran pianist seems intent on exploring all types of formats from solo piano to large ensembles, and all types of inspirations from Ellington to Bach. Having played with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Joshua Redman and Christian McBride, Keezer is most at home with his cozy trio of Scott Colley (bass) and Karriem Riggins (drums) on playful, improv-driven pieces like the title track and the understated "Palm Reader." His most experimental excursion is the mystical, new age-y "Navigating By Starlight," which finds Keezer also playing vibraphone (to hypnotic effect) and Rhodes. Steve Wilson contributes an airy flute melody and there's also a sample from the Asian American Jazz Orchestra to complete the exotic dreamscape effect. For all that, the disc is centered around three collaborations with Hawaiian slack key legend Keola Beamer, including the serene "Shiny Shell Lullaby" and the folksy, meditative "The Horsewoman." These tunes are lovely and provocative, but don't do all that much tempo wise; mostly, they serve to take Keezer out of his usual parameters and show off yet more invention.